FSM States and National Tourism Conference Convened

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): May 8, 1998 - The FSM States
and National Tourism Conference opened with Secretary of Economic
Affairs, Sebastian L. Anefal welcoming participants from the
states, College of Micronesia (COM) and the private sector Monday
morning to deliberate on issues critical to tourism development
in the FSM today.

The conference continued for four days with guest speakers
from the World Bank, the private sector and COM-FSM, according
to the Department of Economic Affairs press release.

On Monday's session, joint concerns focused on the possibility
of having an organization at the national level for all of the
states and concerned tourism interests to be housed. The functions
and responsibilities of such an organization were discussed and
was later assigned to the committee on organization to iron out
the issues brought up in the plenary group.

The states fear that such organization will become just another
bureaucratic layer than hinders tourism development in the FSM.
Some states voiced strong ascent the idea and urged for timely
organization as time is of essence.

Later, each of the states presented their marketing plans.
These plans were intended to be incorporated in the general national
market plan.